Bilderberg Meetings

61st Bilderberg conference to take place on 6-9 June 2013 in Hertfordshire, UK

Hertfordshire, 3 June 2013 - The 61st Bilderberg meeting is set to take place from 6 until 9 June 2013 in Hertfordshire, UK. A total of around 140 participants from 21 European and North American countries have confirmed their attendance. As ever, a diverse group of political leaders and experts from industry, finance, academia and the media have been invited. The list of participants is available on www.bilderbergmeetings.org

The key topics for discussion this year include: • Can the US and Europe grow faster and create jobs? • Jobs, entitlement and debt • How big data is changing almost everything • Nationalism and populism • US foreign policy • Africa’s challenges • Cyber warfare and the proliferation of asymmetric threats • Major trends in medical research • Online education: promise and impacts • Politics of the European Union • Developments in the Middle East • Current affairs

Founded in 1954, Bilderberg is an annual conference designed to foster dialogue between Europe and North America.

Every year, between 120-150 political leaders and experts from industry, finance, academia and the media are invited to take part in the conference. About two thirds of the participants come from Europe and the rest from North America; one third from politics and government and the rest from other fields.

The conference has always been a forum for informal, off-the-record discussions about megatrends and the major issues facing the world. Thanks to the private nature of the conference, the participants are not bound by the conventions of office or by pre-agreed positions. As such, they can take time to listen, reflect and gather insights.

There is no detailed agenda, no resolutions are proposed, no votes are taken, and no policy statements are issued.